Questions
- According to the author, David Staples, what view did Premier Redford have with respect to the province’s major cities during the leadership race?
- What specific issue was Redford the most enthusiastic and committed to in related to the other leadership candidates?
- Staples states that Alberta’s rural ridings have fewer voters in them than in more populous urban ridings. He then suggests that this means on Election Day that rural votes count more than city votes. It gives rural voters disproportionate clout in the legislature. Explain how this situation is arrived at where rural votes have more value that urban votes.
- The author suggests that our cities are strangely poor when it comes to local government. What reason does attribute to this make this statement?
- Alison Redford is quoted as stating that in the past the view of our provincial government was to govern Alberta by treating every community exactly the same way. Now according to this statement, she is suggesting an alternative method of governance. How might this alternative policy do to the views of Rural Albertans? Explain.